“You are going to drop us at Givnia,” Rhodes stated. “You will then head for the slipstream portal at Nipslep.”
“What?” I looked from him, to Xandros. The big Drake’s eyes were chaotic, and he refused to look at me.
“Zyair told me to get her safe,” Rhodes added, still looking at Xandros. I had the feeling they were continuing a conversation, rather than starting one.
His brother sighed. “Agreed.”
“No,” I interjected. “I am coming with you.”
Now Rhodes looked at me. “You cannot. The Nirzks are formidable opponents. We got Zyair out once, but?—”
“We were fortunate before,” Xandros said. “Now—now they will be watching for us.”
My mouth opened, and closed. Then I lifted my chin. “You are mytrue mates. And mates stick together.”
Xandros finally looked at me. “You are a part of me,” he breathed. “We have only bonded once. If you leave now, you—you will be able to live a good life, away from peril.”
I couldn’t believe he suggested that I just walk away, especially as he’d been so afraid I would do so. Now, even the thought of it twisted me up so badly I couldn’t breathe. No way I was leaving them!
Rhodes watched me with eyes that glimmered garnet. This was his doing. I was sure of it. So, I released the harness and rose to face Xandros.
He reached out to slide big fingers along my jaw. “It has to be this way, my little drifter. We are not likely to survive. Yet we cannot leave Zyair to thatbituk.”
Tears pricked my eyes at the thought that they might die. I glanced at Yani. Her own chin was up, her eyes flashing orange fire. And it strengthened myresolve.
I looked to Xandros. “You have something you didn’t have last time.”
His eyes glowed softly. “What are you speaking of?”
“You have me.”
When it came to planning for chaos, Zyair might be king, but Rhodes had a ruthless efficiency that left me breathless. I leaned back in the pilot’s seat as I contemplated the insanity of what he proposed.
Yani spoke from where she had a substantial hip hitched against the dash. “What if he’s already dead?”
We all stiffened.
No.He couldn’t be dead. Each word pierced straight through my heart. But I saw from the expressions on Xandros’s and Rhodes’s faces that they believed it was more than possible.
“I bonded with him. Wouldn’t I know if he were—” I couldn’t even say it.
“Maybe if the bonding was complete…” hedged Rhodes.
Complete. He meant if I was also bonded withhim. Then I’d be connected to all three brothers…
“Xandros said that I could link you.”
Rhodes’s mouth straightened. “Our elder brothers’ mate can do that.” Then he added, almost reluctantly, “Zyair received your warning.”
“He did?” I experienced a pulse of satisfaction.
“It was weak,” Rhodes conceded. “At that time, you had only bonded with two of us.”
“There is no guarantee that she can do what Amelia can, even if she bonded with all of us.” Xandros had Sookie cradled in one huge arm, his fingers busy in her fur. As a result, the hedgegopher was the only contented one on the bridge.
“There is only one way to find out.” I looked at Rhodes.
His dark eyes widened.
